Tadd Roosevelt

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Tadd Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt, James R. Roosevelt, Jr, and Helen R. Roosevelt in Bicester, England - NARA - 196561.jpg
Tadd (middle) in Bicester, England with sister Helen (right) and uncle Franklin (left) in January 1889
Born August 20, 1879
Died June 7, 1958
Education Groton School
Alma mater Harvard University
Parent(s) James Roosevelt Roosevelt
Helen Schermerhorn Astor
Relatives Franklin D. Roosevelt (paternal uncle)
John Jacob Astor IV (maternal uncle)

James Roosevelt "Tadd" Roosevelt, Jr., (August 20, 1879 – June 7, 1958) was an American heir and automobile worker.

Early life

James Roosevelt Roosevelt, Jr. was born on August 20, 1879. He was the son of diplomat James Roosevelt "Rosey" Roosevelt (1854–1927) of the Roosevelt family and Helen Schermerhorn Astor (1855–1893) of the Astor family. He had a sister, Helen Rebecca Roosevelt (1881–1962). His uncles were President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882–1945) and Colonel John Jacob "Jack" Astor IV (1864–1912). He was only three years older than Franklin. Tadd's paternal grandparents were businessman James Roosevelt I (1828–1900) and Rebecca Brien Howland (1831–1876) while his maternal grandparents were businessman William Backhouse Astor, Jr. (1829–1892) and socialite Caroline Webster "Lina" Schermerhorn (1830–1908).

He and Franklin both attended Groton School and Harvard University, with Tadd being ahead of Franklin. Their kinship led to Franklin often being mockingly referred to as "Uncle Frank" while the two attended Groton together.

Career

Tadd inherited $1,500,000 (equivalent to approximately $39,505,556 in 2024 dollars) from his mother in 1893.

Personal life

Roosevelt married Hungarian-born prostitute Sadie Messinger (c. 1880–1940) on June 14, 1900. Tadd's father Rosey, upon learning of the wedding, came down from Hyde Park and brought Tadd home.[1] Their union sparked controversy, and Rosey ended up disowning Tadd.

In February 1917, Tadd was arrested in Florida and required to stay in Florida pending a divorce suit. He had lived in Daytona under the name "M. S. King" with a different woman than Sadie. The Roosevelt family had reportedly opposed the marriage to Sadie and had prevailed in achieving a separation, in which Sadie was to receive a $10,000 (equivalent to approximately $184,701 in 2024 dollars) annual income.[2] A court soon granted $625 (equivalent to approximately $11,544 in 2024 dollars) per month alimony to Sadie, pending settlement of the divorce. At the time, Tadd was reported to be the Floridian paying the highest income taxes, having a $12,000,000 wealth (equivalent to approximately $221,641,558 in 2024 dollars).[3]

By October 1921, Tadd and Sadie were reportedly no longer living together.[4] However, they remained married until her death. They never had children.

Death

Roosevelt died on June 7, 1958. His fortune was donated to the Salvation Army.

References

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Further reading

  • FDR Genealogy
  • Moffat, R. Burnham The Barclays of New york: who they are and who they are not,-and some other Barclays (1904)
  • Sadie Messinger
  • Tadd Roosevelt
  • Black, Conrad Franklin Delano Roosevelt: Champion of Freedom (2005)
  • Panchyk, Richard Franklin Delano Roosevelt for Kids: His Life and Times with 21 Activities (2007)